Chappellet Mountain Cuvee 2024

This vibrant and 'expressive' red wine originates from the United States, within the highly celebrated mountain terrain of Napa Valley, California. The "Mountain Cuvée" Proprietor's Blend builds on nearly six decades of experience at Chappellet, a historic estate founded in 1967 by Donn and Molly Chappellet on Pritchard Hill under the direct guidance of legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff. Operating under a winemaking philosophy that prioritizes balance, freshness, and immediate pleasure, this entry-level cuvée is specifically crafted for near-term enjoyment. The fruit is meticulously sourced from premium hillside parcels across Napa Valley including select estate blocks on Pritchard Hill alongside premier vineyard sites like Stagecoach, Broken Rock, and Sugarloaf where rocky, volcanic soils naturally yield fruit with excellent varietal character and approachability.

Wine Description

Chappellet Mountain Cuvée presents a bright, deep ruby-garnet appearance in the glass. Its sensory profile is wonderfully inviting, aromatic, and fruit-forward, opening with an expressive bouquet of sweet red cherries, cassis, and black plums, beautifully layered with fragrant underlays of lavender, wild rhubarb, shaved cedarwood, and subtle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is medium-to-full-bodied, lively, and smoothly textured, showcasing a polished core of juicy red and black mountain fruits. It is characterized by its outstanding structural balance, striking a fine harmony between ripe fruit extraction and a bright, refreshing natural acidity. The mouthfeel is remarkably supple and rounded compared to the estate's more monolithic single-vineyard bottlings, driven by well-integrated, velvety tannins that glide into a long, clean finish highlighted by lingering notes of sweet vanilla, tobacco, and cocoa powder.